Why ARE Meghan Markle and Serena Williams such good friends? Inside the BFFs close relationship, from their 'endless ambition' to love of hot sauce

MEGHAN Markle and Serena Williams may seem like an unlikely duo but the pair has bonded over their “endless ambition”, love of hot sauce and “girly” stuff to become fiercely staunch pals.

Whether it's new mum Meghan dropping everything to jet over to New York to catch Serena in the US Open final – or Serena forking out an eye-watering £64,066 to throw a dream baby shower – the pair enjoy a fairytale friendship.

The BFFs have spoken openly about their relationship – with Serena Williams revealing last year that they were both "relying on each other a lot" to deal with the pressures of fame.

But how did the pair become so close?

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, and tennis champ Serena, 37, first met at a 2010 Super Bowl party.

Back then Meghan was still an actress in the TV show Suits and had not yet met husband-to-be Prince Harry.

But Meghan gushed how she and Serena never once spoke about their careers during their first meeting – but giggled throughout the game and became fast friends.

"We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff," Meghan Markle wrote on her now defunct blog The Tig. "So began our friendship."

Meghan described Serena as the "down to earth chick" she could grab lunch with – as well as tell her closest secrets to.

We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is our endless ambition

And according to Meg, they both shared the same fiercely ambitious streak, which brought them even closer.

"She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was travelling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto," she wrote in her blog.

"We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations–our endless ambition."

The pals have always been super supportive of each other – and never miss a chance to cheer each other on.

Meghan is a huge fan of Serena's tennis career – and made sure she was there to watch Serena win the 2014 US Open, writing on Instagram: "She did it! @serenawilliams ! #bravo #friends #usopen," from the stands.

Since then Meghan has tried to make it to as many of Serena's tennis matches as possible – jetting to London to watch her at Wimbledon in 2016 – around the same time as her fateful blind date with Harry.

We have known each other for a long time but we are really relying on each other a lot recently

Meghan also took time to watch Serena at Wimbledon again this year, despite the match been scheduled for the day before little Archie's christening.

"Meghan and Serena go back years and she loves to see her friend play," a source told The Sun at the time.

"With Archie's christening a day away it really shows how strong her friendship with Serena is."

She even flew commercial to New York earlier this week to catch Serena in the final of the US Open – leaving four-month-old Archie at home.

A source told The Times it was a "last-minute trip" and she was "excited to support her friend, and then come back.”

And Serena is clearly grateful for her pal's unwavering support praising her at a press conference this summer as a "great friend" who stays "positive no matter what".

I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide‘

“She’s such a great friend and a great person as well. And always positive, no matter what," Serena said.

“It’s so good to have people like that, just to know. (She’s) such a fan of the sport.”

Following Serena's controversial loss last year to Naomi Osaka, Serena revealed how she and Meghan supported each other through their ups and downs.

Agreeing that she and Meghan were probably under more scrutiny than any other women on the planet, she told Australian TV show The Project that the pair often call and text each other for advice on how to deal with the pressures of fame.

"We were actually just texting each other this morning and we have known each other for a long time but we are really relying on each other a lot recently," she said.

And it wasn't just tennis – Meghan also made sure to support Serena's fashion line at New York fashion week 2016, captioning a photo of their together on Instagram: "My eyes are closed but my heart is so open! So proud of your new collection @serenawilliams Happy I could be there to support you xx #NYFW"

Although Meghan couldn't make Serena's wedding to reddit founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017 – due to work commitments – Serena didn't hold it against her and made sure to attend Meghan's big day a year later.

She even excitedly chronicled the day on Instagram writing: “So my friend is getting married today, and I’m up super early…I’ve known her for so many years, and I’m so happy for her.”

But it's not all gushy social media posts – Serena has shown to be a true friend who is not afraid of getting tough with the Duchess.

Meghan apparently went to Serena for help how to deal with the downsides of fame – and was given some straight-talking advice.

Serena will be an amazing mom. The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity